Despite ongoing shoulder concerns surrounding Jaland Lowe, Kentucky head coach Mark Pope remains confident in the Wildcats’ current roster and does not expect the program to pursue a midseason addition.
Lowe has dealt with a lingering shoulder injury throughout the season, including two separate dislocations, but Pope emphasized during his Monday call-in radio show that he believes the junior guard will be available for the long haul.
“I have every expectation Jaland is going to be with us the whole season, and we’re excited about it,” Pope said.
The injury has already caused some tense moments. Against St. John’s, Lowe exited just seven seconds into the first half before returning after halftime. He ultimately logged 15 minutes, finishing with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting to go along with three assists and three rebounds.
Even with Lowe’s injury history and the obvious risk involved, Pope made it clear Kentucky is not actively searching for reinforcements.
“We have a great roster,” Pope said. “I’m not sure we’re shopping a lot right now.”
While adding another guard could provide insurance, Pope expressed strong belief in the development of Jasper Johnson and Denzel Aberdeen as the season progresses.
“Jasper is going to grow into a starring role,” Pope said. “D.A. is becoming more and more comfortable being a full-time point, but also on the move at the 2.”
Kentucky will continue to monitor Lowe closely and manage his minutes carefully. His status remains uncertain for Tuesday’s matchup against Bellarmine, after which the Wildcats will have nearly two weeks off before opening SEC play at Alabama on January 3.
“He’s pretty sore today. We’ll see how it is tomorrow,” Pope said. “We’ll continue to proceed with caution with these guys. He’s bounced back really fast, so I know he’s got great basketball in him.
For now, Pope is standing firm in his belief that Kentucky’s current roster is equipped to navigate conference play and push toward a postseason run — even if that means trusting what’s already in the locker room.
